Getty Image / Kevin C. Cox
Texas Football is officially back after last year’s Big 12 Championship that ended in a College Football Playoff Semifinal loss to Washington. A move to the SEC this season will truly test just how far back they really are.
But, they’re going to be down one of their most important players on offense for this upcoming season as they look to replace some pretty serious losses at the skill positions for Heisman candidate quarterback Quinn Ewers. That player is running back CJ Baxter.
Baxter will miss the season after having surgery due to injuries suffered to his PCL and LCL that happened in preseason camp on Tuesday. That’s according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
CJ Baxter was considered by many to be the best high school running back in the country in the Class of 2023, and he did not disappoint last year a freshman. While backing up NFL Draft pick Jonathon Brooks, Baxter had 138 carries for 659 yards and 5 touchdowns last year, good for 4.8 yards per carry. He added an impressive 24 catches for 166 yards, as well. He showed off the fantastic power running that made him such a highly-touted recruit out of Orlando in high school.
Texas had a loaded skill group last year with high NFL Draft picks like Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell, Ja’Tavion Sanders, and Brooks. Those guys are all gone now, and Baxter was expected to carry a big load in the run game behind arguably the nation’s best offensive line led by projected top-ten pick Kelvin Banks.
Jaydon Blue will likely step in to the starter’s role at tailback, and they were aggressive in the transfer portal to get pass-catchers for Ewers to throw to. Most notably is Alabama transfer Isaiah Bond. Plus, five-star freshman Ryan Wingo will also contribute. Still, CJ Baxter is a pretty big loss for the Longhorns, ranked 4th in the coaches poll.
Texas opens their season against Colorado State before a big trip to Ann Arbor to take on the Michigan Wolverines in Week 2.